Historic Game, Yes, But Yale Players Put Emphasis On Beating Army

NEW HAVEN — Some day, those who now play football at Yale will look back with pride about the Army-Yale game this Saturday. That will be when they return to Yale Bowl with their packed coolers or busy alumni agendas ready to reminisce about its historical significance in the long history of the iconic program.

But now is not the time to revel in their brief renewal with Army, a game that decades ago would have been trumpeted as one of the biggest of the year. Now, it is little more than a ceremonial flourish, scheduled to help celebrate Yale Bowl's 100th birthday.

"It is just another reason for people to get excited about Yale football," senior halfback Tyler Varga said. "It's great for the school, for the sport in general, to be able to celebrate the storied tradition of the incredible history of this game. It's a great chance to relish what we have [at Yale] and also pay tribute to our opponent, who will eventually fight for America. We're excited to be playing, but also just living in the moment right now."

Still, Yale-Army is exciting to consider, a 1 p.m. event promising to bring about 40,000 fans to an enormous stadium that looked barren with barely 8,000 there to see Lehigh.

Athletic director Tom Beckett made it happen. He had to work his way through the twisted labyrinth of NCAA regulations to secure a waiver for the game so that Army would be considered bowl-eligible. The Black Knights haven't played Yale since 1996. That was one of the sticking points that brought the series to a grinding halt after 45 meetings dating to 1893.

NEW HAVEN – In a society that seems to view the newest sensation with more excitement than most things old and dependable, it likely didn't surprise Yale on Sunday when ESPN decided it would not host "College GameDay" from Yale Bowl on Saturday.

The Bulldogs had lobbied ESPN to come to New Haven...

NEW HAVEN – In a society that seems to view the newest sensation with more excitement than most things old and dependable, it likely didn't surprise Yale on Sunday when ESPN decided it would not host "College GameDay" from Yale Bowl on Saturday.

The Bulldogs had lobbied ESPN to come to New Haven...

(JOHN ALTAVILLA)

"Since the Ivy League has made the decision not to participate in the postseason, we in turn are not counted as a bowl-eligible win for [an FBS] school," Yale coach Tony Reno said. "If Army is to win, the game would normally be negated. We had to apply for a waiver [to change that]."

Beckett succeeded.

Yale opened its season Saturday, gaining 683 yards in a 54-43 win against Lehigh. It wiped out a 21-0 first-quarter deficit with 356 passing yards from junior quarterback Morgan Roberts, 152 yards rushing from Varga and other tremendous individual efforts.

NEW HAVEN – When it was completed in 1914, Yale Bowl was a sight to see: circular, epic and largest amphitheater raised since the Roman Coliseum, where gladiators represented more than an athletic metaphor.

Of course, the Bowl soon would host its own Lions; those from Columbia. But its first football...

NEW HAVEN – When it was completed in 1914, Yale Bowl was a sight to see: circular, epic and largest amphitheater raised since the Roman Coliseum, where gladiators represented more than an athletic metaphor.

Of course, the Bowl soon would host its own Lions; those from Columbia. But its first football...

(JOHN ALTAVILLA)

Army is 1-2. It opened with a win against Buffalo before absorbing a 35-0 loss at Stanford and a 24-21 defeat at Wake Forest. The Black Knights play UConn at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 8.

"We had the privilege of playing the three service academies during my time here," said Carm Cozza, who won 10 Ivy League titles in his career as Yale coach from 1965-96. "You will not out-condition those young men. They start marching in July. Every play in every game is like their last play, whether they are up or down 50. You need to be ready to compete every down. … You would expect nothing less from young men who will likely be defending our country. And that's what you want to compete against."

In some cases, the Ivy League and service academies recruit the same athletes.

"Early on, we often compete for the same athletes [who chose the service academies]," Reno said. "Then eventually the young man decides whether or not he feels like he has a calling [to serve]. And what usually happens is a kid will say, 'Coach, I love Yale, but I am going to choose between the service academies.' You can't do anything but tell them how proud you are of them and wish them the best and thank them for the service they will be providing the country."

Yale's senior kicker, Kyle Cazzetta, is an example. Cazzetta's father, Vince, a native of Simsbury who played basketball and baseball at Fairfield University, once worked as an administrator at Army. His grandfather, Vince, coached Seattle University in the 1958 NCAA men's championship game against Kentucky, and the Pittsburgh Pipers to the 1968 ABA championship. Kyle was ready to go Army before finally hearing from Yale.

"I was ready to go," Cazzetta said. "I grew up about 25 minutes from West Point [Slate Hill, N.Y.] and they began to recruit me from the time I was a high school junior through my senior year. They offered me early in my senior year and Yale had not even started recruiting me until the end of that year.

"My reasoning was if I had decided to go to West Point, and determined later it wasn't for me, it would have left me in a poor spot. But if I went to Yale, I was certain I'd have no regrets, knowing still the opportunity I can have later to work for the military in some capacity."